Ribbon spool for calculating machines, etc.



H. F. EICHACKER May 17, 1960 RIBBON S POOL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES, ETC.

' Filed Sept. 18, 1956 INVENTOR. HAaoLD F. Encrmcxsk m'ra -ev United State at O 2,936,883 RIBBON SPOOL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES, ETC. a

Harold Frank Eichacker, Wethersfield, Conn. Application September 18, 1956, Serial No. 610,567

5 Claims. (Cl. 266- 52),

The present invention relates generally to inking ribbons and spools therefor for use in adding machines, typewriters and similar office machines and equipment,

More particularly, the invention'relates to an improved ribbon spool and container assembly for such spool and ribbon and including a ribbon end member by whichthe free end of the ribbon may be fastened'to the eover'or case for the spool. r p

A feature of importance of the invention is that an end member or anchoring means for the free end of a ribbon may be made up of a small flat member over'one end of which the ribbon is folded, the ribbon and flat member beingenclosed Within a close fitting'slee've memher; v

Another object of the invention is to form an end member for the ribbon as an integral part of the container or cover for'the spool, the part being breakable from the main portion of the cover when thenew ribbon is to replace awo'rn ribbon and'be mounted in a machine, there being also a close fitting sleeve over the ribbon. f

It is an object of theinvention also to provide an "improved inking ribbon spool of the character indicated which cooperates with a detachable cup container toform' a protective package for the ribbon and its spool'and retains the outer end of the'ribbon in fixed position.

Another object of the jinventionis to'providefan'improved anchoring end member with which any finger contact bythe operator with the inking ribbon may be entirely avoided when an old ribbon is being replaced and a new ribbon is being mounted in'position on themachine;

A furtherobje'ct of the invention is to provide an im; proved spool, a containertherefor and a ribbonanchof ing member whichlmay be'readily and cheaply molded or otherwise formed entirely of plastic.

Other objects will appear fromthe following descrip tion of the several illustrative embodiments of the invention shown inthe accompanying 'drawing'sj'in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container, spool, ribbon and anchor, member assembly embodying the invention; 7 f a 5.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the membersshown in Fig. 1. assembled ,compactlytogether. for transportation and as marketed; V

the'embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, it will be seen that the ribbon spool, generally designated 10, includes a central tubular bearing sleeve 11 by which the spool may be journaled on a ribbon feeding spindle (not shown) or other suitable spool supporting and actuating member of an adding machine, typewriter or the like. The spool 10 also includes a circular flange '12 which is formed integrally with or secured concentrically to one end of the tubular bearing portion 11. An inked ribbon 13 is Wound on a cylindrical sleeve portion or hub 14 of the spool 10 with one lateral edge of the coiled ribbon 13 abutting the flange 12. The spool 10 shown in Fig. l is provided with a second head 15 at the opposite end of the sleeve 14.

As shown also in Fig. 1, the sleeve 14 is concentrically disposed about the bearing tube 11 and is secured to or formed integrally with the flange 12. A slotted aperture 16 extends the length of the sleeve 14 and head. 15

' through which the inner end 16 of the coiled ribbon'13 passes and is secured by means of an anchor clip 17 which is retained within the space between the sleeve 14 and the tube 11 so that it cannot be drawn through the slot 16. However, the anchor clip 17 may be manually drawn in an axial direction from within the sleeve 14 and the endmember 17 of the ribbon slipped from the slot 15 so that an empty spool 10 may be used as the take-up spool for a new ribbon as is hereinafter described.

Fig.3 isa central ,crossesection view showing of theanchoring assembly forthe free endiof the ribbon; ;.L

Fig. 4 is a top view of the spool shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the ribbon anchoring end member detached from the container and detachably anchored in a second or take-up spool;

Fig. 4a is an exploded view of an anchoring member for the ribbon;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the spool shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of spool with its cover, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are side elevations partially sectioned of spools for the ribbon.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and first to The spool 10 may be rotated with its mounting spindle byan operating ratchet wheel (not shown), or the like, ofan adding machine, the ratchet wheel being formed on or fastened to the spindle. The embodiments shown in the drawing are provided with a circular boss 18 on the underside of the flange 12 from which depend several lugs 19 that effect a driving engagement with recesses in the ratchet wheel (not shown) or the like for rotating the ribbon spool 10. However, it will be understood that various alternative or additional driving means may be provided for rotating the spool 10 and that the lugs 19 are illustrative only of suitable means for that purpose.

In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, the spool 10 as purchased in removably but snugly secured within a generally cylindrical cup-shaped container or cover 20 which has a flat circular top wall and a peripheral cylindrical side wall as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The spool 10 with the ribbon 13 wound thereon is adapted to be stored within the cover or housing 20 withthe open end of the sleeve 14 or with the slotted head 15 abutting the inner side of the endwall of the cover and with the circular end flange 12 snugly fitted just within the open end of the cover.

As shown'in Figs. 1 and 2, a flat thin and generally rectangular portion 17 projects radially from the lip of the .cover 20 and is disposed substantially parallel to the rim of the cover.

In accordance. with the invention, the free end 24 of the ribbon 13 extends from the spool 10 and container 20 between the side wall of the spool flange '12 and the free edge of the container. The free end 24 of the ribbon, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is secured over the flat member, 17 byasleeve clamp or anchoring member 25 which,

-. in the illustrated embodiment, is forced tightly over the extension 17 after the ribbon 13 has been folded back fication'of the color, size and characteristics of the ribbon by inspection without removing the spool Whom the container 24).

The connection between the member 17 and the lip of the container 20 which are moulded as one piece is one which may be readily and cleanly snapped or otherwise broken or separated, leaving the member 17 and the clamp member 25 assembled over the end of the ribbon 13 to serve as an anchor member for securing the free end 24 of the ribbon between the sleeve 14 and bearing tube 11 of a take-up spool 10.

The spool 10, cover 20 and clamp member 25 may be made of various materials, those illustrated having been molded of plastics, such as one of the styrenes, acetates or butyrates, to name a few. These are suitable and will provide the desired strength qualities and a clean fracture along the lip -17 of the container 20 when the clamp 25 is gripped between the fingers. A firm bending pressure exerted on the spool from the container 20 is easily effected after the member 17 has been detached from the container, and loading of the ribbon and spools in asaaess a typewriter, or other machine, may be easily effected without any ink from the ribbon soiling the fingers of the operator.

The modified spool 28, as shown in Fig. 6, is similar to the spool 10 except for the omission of a second end flange.

In Fig. 7 is shown a single flanged spool with its central tubular bearing portion 11 extending only to the plane of the edge of the sleeve portion 14. In Fig. 8 the central tubular portion 11' is extended beyond this plane and may fit within a recessed surface in the cover 20 to more firmly support the spool within its cover.

The modified form of cover 30 shown in Fig. 6 may have its inner side wall recessed annularly to form a circular ledge 31 against which the flange 12 of a spool 10 may rest. Also in Fig. 6 is shown an extra projection 34 diametrically opposite the projection 17 over which the ribbon 13 is fitted. This extra projection 34 is provided with an anchor member 36 similar generally to the member 25. The inner edge of this member 36 and its companion member for retaining the ribbon end 24 overhang the flange 12 of the spool 10 slightly. In this manner the spool is retained within its cover 20 at two oppositely disposed positions by the overlying inner arcuate edge of the members and 36. In practice the thickness of the projection 34 would be slightly greater than projection 17 so that the sleeve 25 wouldsnugly fit over it without the ribbon 13.

The projections 17 and the member 23 would preferably be formed with a central point at their outer ends as shown in Fig. 4a. By this means the pull on the ribbon 13 after placing the sleeve 25 in position would tighten the engagement of the ribbon. Also as shown in Fig. 4 the end of the sleeve 25 when the ribbon 13 is pulled serves to tighten the engagement of the ribbon 13 and presses the end of the sleeve 25 against the inner wall of the sleeve 14- at the edge of the slot 16.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are illustrative of the invention and it will be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the invention, the scope of which is identified in the appended claims.

I claim as'my invention:

1. Iucombination, a ribbon spool having a hub, a ribbon coiled on said spool with the inner end detachably secured within said hub, a cover for said spool-having a detachable projection, the outer end of said coiled ribbon extending from said cover and secured to said projection on said cover, said projection after being detached providing an anchor for said ribbon detachably securable within the hub'of a second ribbon spool.

2. In combination, a ribbon spool having a hub and a circular side flange, a ribbon coiled on said hub against said flange with the inner end of said ribbon detachably secured within said hub, a cylindrical cover for said spool including a circular mouth adapted to snugly receive and retain said flange, said cover having a detachable portion at the rim thereof the outer end of said coiled ribbon extending from said cover between said mouth and said flange and secured over said detachable portion of said cover, said portion after being detached providing an anchor for said ribbon detachably securable to the hub of a second ribbon spool.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said anchor includes a clamping sleeve enclosing and gripping said ribbon against opposite sides of said detachable por tion of the cover.

4. In combination, a ribbon spool having a hub and a circular flange at one end of said hub, a ribbon coiled on said spool against said flange with the inner end detachably secured within said hub, a cylindrical cover formed of brittle plastic for said spool and having a circular mouth for snugly receiving the spool, a projection extending from the rim of said cover the outer end of said coiled ribbon extending from saidv cover between said flange and mouth and secured over said detachable integral projection on said cover, said projection being detached by breaking from said cover and providing when detached an anchor member for said ribbon securable within the hub of a ribbon spool.

5. In combination, a ribbon spool having a hub and a circular flange at one end of said hub, a ribbon coiled on said spool against said flange with the inner end detachably secured within said hub, a cylindrical cover formed of brittle plastic for said spool and having a circular mouth for snugly receiving the spool, an integral projection extending from the rim of said 'cover the outer end of said coiled ribbon extending from said cover between said flange and mouth and secured over said detachable projection on said cover and within a clamping sleeve enclosing said projection, said projection being detached by breaking and providing with said sleeve when detached an anchor member for said ribbon securable within the hub of a ribbon spool.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,423 Smith Nov. 19, 1889 838,373 Bluen Dec. 11, 1906 1,793,198 Towne Feb. 17, 1931 2,137,745 White Nov. 22, 1938 2,239,222 Funke Apr. 22, 1941 2,262,874 Wright Nov. 18, 1941 2,589,192 Johnston Mar. 11, 1952 

